From: "Ann Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Some of this article defintely does not make sense. > > USER ACTION: Although the mainframe can generally be a more dependable > > platform, we do not believe the long-term challenges of maintaining > > management skills to run Web presentation services on the mainframe or > > the cost premium (vs. commodity servers) are justified for presentation- > > layer infrastructure. Furthermore, the lack of ISV enthusiasm and the > > decline in mainframe skills during the next five to seven years makes > > this a doubtful option long term for most shops. This bit in particular is based on a piece of dogma that I believe no longer holds true. The traditional view is that the mainframe set are ageing, rapidly approaching retirement and will leave the industry next Tuesday. In part this is based on a lack of visibility of replacement training. However - if you look at the raw data (lots of things - IBM's five successive good quarters with the product, the volume of messages now on the IBM-MAIN mailing list every day, the volume of messages on this list, user groups starting to meet again) there are incontrovertible signs of a correction - possibly even the beginnings of a revival - in this sector. The bald assumption that mainframe skills will inevitably decline is unsupportable. Industry analysts should revisit their own accepted truths once in a while. -- Phil Payne http://www.isham-research.com/linuxonly.html +44 7785 302 803 +49 173 6242039
